Cutting torch



J. 1&3. MccUTcHI-:ON 1,860,046

CUTTING TORCH May 24, 1932.

` Filed oct. 2o, 1928 ZI I l',

INVENTOR www Patented May 24, 1932 JAMES D. McoU'rcHnoN, oFtPITasni-mon, PENNSYLVANLA i Gemine Tonen i -This invention relates fto torches, and esl pecially to cutting and welding torches adaptedto deliver heating andcutting'jets.

In the ftorches heretofore commonly used the pressure 'of cutting gas suppliedfto the nozzle to formthe cutting jet has been regulated only "by means of a pressurereducing valvesituatedy between the controlvalvefand the cutting gas supply,- and consequently when the controlV valve is wide open fgas'ls supplied to the nozzle at themaXimum pres# sure for which the reducing valve is set. Adjus'tment of the cutting gas lpressure 1s thus wholly within the control of the operator,

who may set the reducing valvelto deliver such gas at what he deemsjto'be the"proper pressureffor the work inV hand; Torch operators, through carelessness, haste, lack oeXV perience,` etc. `may, and f frequently do,f i'mfproperly `adjust the 4line pressure to supply too much cutting gas, with' the result that wastefully increased.

cutting gas consumption is unnecessarily and VAn object of the Vinvention isto provide a'Lv torch of the typevreerredto with means Vfor automatically maintaining the yflow of cut-V ting gas to the A nozzle below a predetermined pressure irrespective of the line pressure 0r pressure of the y gas conduit from the control-valve.

Another object is to provide rva torch wthj means effective between'the cutting gas control valve and 'nozzle' for reducing thelow of gas to the nozzle when the pressure of the gas from the valvei'eXceeds a predetermined-'value, whichmeans, are sealed to prevent change of adjustment.

' v'lheprei'erred embodiment ofthe inven'! tion is shown in the'accompanying drawings,

in which Fig. l visla planview ypartly in section of `a t. torchembodying ,the invention; Fig, 2 anenlarged vertical longitudinal sec-V tionallview ofthe control mechanism Vof the torchshown in Fig, l; and Eig. 3 a cross Section 'of theregulating valve, takenon line` 11min, Fig. 2.

The torch' provided by the'inventionfconii i, prises a nozzle adapted to deliverheating and cutting jets, separate conduits for supplying -heating and cutting gases to the nozzle, a

gas lowinggto the cutting pressureresponsive means,V actuated by they pressure of they gasfrom `thefvalve to mainl taintheipressure of gas supplied to the nozzle, below a predetermined value The -cutting gas control valve,fmost vsuitably ofthe normallyclosed spring-actuated type, is prefer-` fcontrol V'valvefin the cuttingV gas conduit, and

ably :disposed in a valve block, and the' heating jet gas'supply controlled, in any sufit'- able manner.v f Thepressure-responsive means 'Y may beplaced in any suitable position onorr as an accessory to the torch. Preferably'such" .means comprisesfanormally vopen springactua'tedfcheclr, orregulating, valve disposed in the cutting gaseonduitbetween thecontrol 'j valve land nozzle, andfpreferably interposedA inV 'the valve 'block between thev outlet of the @DMT-0.1 'Valve andthe cutting'4 gas conduit." i

Thisregu'lating permits gas to pass 'to the nozzle from thecontrolvalveas long" as its pressurefis below apredetermined value,"

the jet is inefficient." When thecontrol valve and preferably i,s,sealed after adjustment to which will generally"` be that beyond which -admits f gask in' ieXcessVp-of thatv pressure, the c fpressure of thegas actuates the regulating valveto reduce the flow of gas to the nozzle to 1 the proper point. The regulating valve may, f

prevent any. accidental or intentional-change Vof adjustment, thereby rendering f-it impostinggas pressure.

,Having reference now to the drawings,`the torch shown comprises a nozzlel, and a head 2 fof the'type, provided with vaimixing chain'- ber, although Vother types of head may be used, and all of the nozzles and heads are in such commonuse yas to require nojfurthe'r de"- scription. lConnected vvto the head and eX-VV tendingto 'abase block are separate cutting and heating 'gas' pipes 4- 4a,'respectively,

siblefor an operator ltov apply excessive'cut- 'y Fig. 1,7pipe'-4a lying below gas pipe 14 in the same'plane.A A tubular handle member 5 sur-k roundsv the pipes adjacent tliewbase block.

Cutting gasfor the cutting j etpasses to pipe i v 4 from asourceof supply connected tofa v"nippleft Von block 3,*thfeline pressure being a regulatedin any suitable manner, as by a redu'cing'valve on thesupply tankH'The heatingjet is: formed-'from low pressure cutting gas drawn through ,valve 7 in block'3, and from fuel gas passed to the block through appropriate connections and valves. All of this Construction, including that of the base block, is well known and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The cutting gascontrol and regulating valve mechanism is preferably disposed in a valve block 8 interposed in pipe 4 between the nozzle and block 3, as shown in Fig. 1.

Block 8 is provided with Aa"transverseport or opening 9 for the control valve, communieating at its upper end with the line pressure side of pipe 4, and at its lower end with a 4longitudinal bore 10 extending toY a regulating valvechamber 11, yfrom which a continuaftion of pipe textends to head 2. Opening 9v is provided with a tapered seat for a conical valve 12 as shown in Fig. 2, this valve being held inpassage-closing position by the gas Y pressure and by a coiledspring 13v disposed between thevalve head and a threadedplug ltiscrewed into the upper end of opening 9, a vgasket 15 being inserted between the plug and the block. Stem 16 of valve v12 'extends downwardly into a bushing 17 disposed in theVV lower end of the opening, and a pin 1,8. aligned with the valve stem is inserted in the bore of the bushing for actuation of the valve. VAl packing gland 19 in the bushing,anda'capA 2,0 having a central pin-receiving bore disposed over the outer end ofthe bushing, proable by a trigger 21 pivotally connected at 22 to block 8, so that whenthe trigger is de'- pressed pinl 18 acts upon valve stem 16 and opens valve 12 to permit cutting gas topass through opening 9 and bore 10to chamber 11.

The lautomatic control mechanism provided according to the invention is disposed in chamber 1 1. j As shown in Fig. 2, it preferably comprises a valve having a stem 23 provided at its lower end-with longitudinal vanes 24:,.and with a circular base 25 forming a web between'the ends of the vanes. lThese vanes makera sliding fit in the lower end of the chamber, and act asa guide to maintain the stem in proper alignment. Intermediate its ends the stemis provided with a collar 26, and a diaphragm packing ,27 restsv on the outer end ofthis collar and is firmly held in place by.A a .threaded collar 28 ,engagingV vly the diameter of the base of bushing 30, so as also to act asa guide for the upper end of stemV 23. Thevalve is disposed to be normally open, the spring tension being adjusted by movement of plug 34- so as to move the valve towards and into passage closing position when the pressurerof gas'frombore 10 reaches a predetermined value.

ln the operation of'this torch appropriate i cutting and fuel gas connections are made at the 'base block, oxygen being generallyk used as the cutting gas, and for the heating jet any suitable-fuel gases can be used, such as acetylene, hydrogen, etc. The cutting gas valve is normally closed, so that this gas cannot flow tothe nozzle until valve 12 is opened .by manipulation of triggerfZl. The heating jet is `adjusted in the customary manner, and when the work has been heated to thev kindling temperature, trigger 21.,.is depressed,

which opens valve 12, and since the regulating valve is open, gas-passes to the nozzle to form thc cutting j et( The cutting gas flowing from valve 12 exerts its pressure against the to the nozzle, when its pressurebeyond the control valve attainsv or passes any desired value. The pressure at which the regulating valve isset .to operate will be' that atV which the cutting jet' is'most eicient, andcan' of course be varieddepending upon the requirements of sett-ingev For example, with oxygen as the cutting gas, using acetylene as the fuel gas.y the regulating valve may be adjusted to maintain the yoxygen passing to the cutting jet of the nozzle below, say, 30- pounds per square inch pressure. Consequently, should the operator apply a line pressure in excess of that at which the regulating valve operates, the latter acts to limit the pressure at which the cutting gas Hows through the nozzle to the pressure determined by the setting of the regulating valve.

In order to prevent accidental or intentional change of adjustment of the regulating valve, it is preferably sealed. This may suitably be accomplished in the manner shown in Fig. 2, in which the bushing v30 vprojects 'slightly beyond a nipple 36 integral with ersV block 8, and an interiorly threaded c ap36 Y venga ges the expos-ed threadsv on the bushing,

this cap4 being relative-ly lflat and smooth-surfaced, so as not to be readily removable, thus preventing-accessto the 'spring tension adjusting plug 34. A central bore provided in the cap, and filled with sealing wax'37,`permits access to a-slot Vform'edin thefplug for adjustment'.4 The use ofa sealed bore in the les cap, while .not entirely preventing access to the plu g, reduces the. liability of unauthorized readjustments, and of course disturbance of the wax indicates that the torch has Ybeen tampered with.

regulating valve, which'hasbeenadjusted so as to reduce or shut off the flow of such gas and thus renders harmless the application of h excessive line pressure. The torches vare readily constructed, and existing torches may be readily modified to embody the invention. According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention, and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have itl understood that, within the scope of the'appended claims, the invention Y,

may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim: f

1. Av cutting torch comprising in combination a. nozzle adapted to deliver heating and cutting jets, Vseparate conduits for supplying heating and cutting gas tothe nozzle, a nor-V mally closed springectuated control valve in the cutting gas conduit, and a normally inadj ustable sprng-impelled regulating valve associated with the outlet 'of and actuatedbyl the pressure of gas supplied from said con;

trol valve, said regulating valve beingf effective when the pressure of gas suppliedV from said control valve exceeds a predetermined pressure to maintain flow of gas to the nozzle continuously at said predeter mined pressure.

2. A cutting torch comprising in combinaactuated control valve in isaid conduit, and' a normally open spring-actuated vregulating valveassociated withthe outlet of said cut-V,

ting gas valve and operable bythe pressure of gas supplied from said cutting gas valve to maintain the flow of gas to thevnozzle co'ny tinuously at a predetermined pressure.

5. A cutting torch comprising'in'combinaf tiona nozzle adapted tofdeliver heatingl and cutting'jets, a baseblock disposedin spaced relation to said nozzle, separate heatingand'.

cutting 'gas pipes` connecting said block and nozzle, a valve blocklinterposedin said out`` ting gas pipe between said Ybaselblock and nozzle, a controlvalve in said valve block,

and a normally open spring-actuatedregu'- lating valve disposed in sealedfadjustmentin said valve block between the outlet of said control valve and said cutting gas pipe and Y l i l I actuated bythe pressure of gas supplied from said control valve to maintain flow ofi gas to the nozzle continuously at predetermined pressure when the pressure of said gas sure. n Y In testimonywhereof I sign my name. r

JAMES D. MCCU'ICHEON.

passed by said control valve exceeds said-pres- Y y i y Y i Y 9o l tion a nozzle, a conduit for supplying cutting gas to the nozzle, a valve associated with said conduit for admitting cuttinggas there- Y to, and pressure-responsive means effective between said valve and nozzle and actuated by the pressure of gas supplied from said valve for maintaining the flow of gas tothe Y nozzle continuously at a predetermined value. n 3. A cutting torch comprising in combination a nozzle adapted to deliver heating and cutting jets, a conduitl for supplying cutting gas to the nozzle, and a valve in said conduit for admitting cutting gas thereto, and presd sure-regulating means interposed vin sealed adjustment in said conduit between said valve and nozzle and actuated by flow ofgas'in Y, 11o Y said conduit, Vsaid means being effective when.v

the pressure of gas supplied from said valve exceeds a predetermined pressure to maintain the flow to the nozzle continuously at said predetermined pressure. Y

l. `A cutting torch comprising in combination'a nozzle adapted to deli-ver heating and cutting ]ets, a conduit for supplying cutting gas to thenozzle, a normally closed spring- 

